Ments



G. L. SCHOFIELD.

AUT OTRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I917.

IN VIE/V 'I'OR.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHIEl' I.

G. L. SCHOFIELD.

AUTOTRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 19I7.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' e. L. SCHOFIELD.

Patented Oct. 19,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 M y OP TC 7 .U.. N 0 D E a V 6 7 .N

UNITEDISTATES PATENT oFFIcEQf GEORGEL. SCII FIEL J, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURILASSIGNOR, BYIMES E SSIGN- MENTS, To AUTOMOTIVE TRACTOR CORPORATION or AMERICA, or KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION or MISSOURI. i I

VAUTOTRACTOR.

Application filed March 8, 1917. -Seria1-No. 153,289.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. SCHOFIELD,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Autotractors; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters I and figures of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to auto-tractors and has for itsprincipal object to provide a carrier or tractor frame whereon an automobile or other motor vehicle may be mounted easily and quickly and so '-connected with driving parts of the carrier that a tractor is provided which maybe used to perform the work of the usual tractor,

. wherein the power of propelling mechanism is permanently located on the carrying frame.

It is also an object of the invention to provide means for centering and for securing the motor vehicle on the carrier frame in functional position and means for steering the carrier from the seat of the motor vehicle.

tractor constructed according to the present invention. Fig. II is a plan view of the carrier frame. 1 I

Fig. III is a front view of the carrier showing a motor vehicle mounted thereon.

Fig. IV is a rear view of the same. a Fig. V is a Side view of a portion of the carrier frame illustrating the means for locking the axle of the motor vehicle in functional position. i I

F g. VI is aside elevation of a portion of the carrier frame illustrating the operaa tion of the centering runways and the driving connection of the automobile with the carrier gearing.

Fig. VII is an end view of the same-parts.

Fig. VIII is a side view illustrating the mounting and adjustment of the frame leveling wheel.

Fig. IX is a sectional View, illustrating the connection of the steering mechanism with the guide wheels.

Fig. X is a detail perspective view of the locking mechanism for securing the driving vehicle in functional position on the carrier frame.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates the frame of a carrier, or auto-tractor, constructed according to my invention, comprising a pair of parallel runways 22 that are rigidly joined in spaced relation at their rearward and forward ends by cross beams 3-4. The side and end frame members are preferably of angle iron construction and the runways are spaced toconveniently receive a vehicle of standard road gage.

The frame is pivotally supported at its forward end by means of a pin 5 which extends horizontally through a bearing 6, mountedcentrally on the cross beam 4 and a bearing 6 on a transverse axle 7 which is supported at its opposite ends by the guide wheels 8. At its rearward end the frame is supported at one Side by means of a drive or bull wheel 9, carried on a drop axle 10, having a portion 11 extended beneath the frame beam 3 and Secured thereto by bearing plates 12, and at its opposite-side by an adjusting wheel 14, mounted on the offset portion -15 of an axle arm 16 that is pivotally mounted on a shaft 17 located transversely beneath the carrierframe.

Means for Securing the adjusting wheel in position to effect leveling of the frame, comprises an arcuate extension 18 on the arm 16 that is provided with a plurality of apertures 19 adapted to register with apertures in a plate 20, secured to the under face of the runway beam 2/, so that when the wheel is adjusted vertically as desired, may be secured in such position by inserting a bolt 21 through the registering apertures in the extension 18 and plate 20. WVith this wheel adjustment, and with the pivotal support at the front end oi the frame, the latter may be quickly leveled when used on sloping surfaces or when it is required that one of the rear wheels travel in a plowed furrow In order to mount or remove the motor vehicle from the tractor frame, I provide runway extensions 2C 25 which are pivotally attached at the forward ends of the runways 2'-2 by means of looped portions 26, formed at the ends of the extensions which extend through slots 27 in the bases of the forward ends of the runways 2--2, so that the extensions may be raised or lowered to provide an inclined track whereby the motor vehicle may reach or leave the runways. The runway extensions are preferably of channel iron construction and are ilared at their tr e ends to facilitate the guiding oi the motor vehicle onto the carrier- In order to properly locate the driving vehicle on the frame and to secure the same solidly in functional position, l have provided centering guideways 3O opposite sides and near the rear ends of the runways 22, each comprising paired angle iron members 31 pivotally mounted at their forward ends on brackets 32 secured to the runways, and supported at their rearward ends in an upwardy inclined position on the cross bars 34 of hell crank levers t are carried by the inner walls of and by brackets 36 secured to the bases of the runways 2 2.

Secured at opposite sic es of the frame to the vertical portions of the runways 2-2 are standards 3838, each provided with a forwardly opening socket 39, which is so located that it will receive the axle 0:": the motor vehicle as the latter is moved rearwardly on the :trame and up the centering guideways 30; the bases of the sockets being provided with seats ll into which the hicle axle may be lowered by a downvvard movement of the guide channels Means for securing the vehicle aisle in standard seats comprises locking pla' which are slidablyoarried on the inner i of the standards 838 and are mounted at their opposite tending from the inn ards, each plate bein wardly opening socket l ithe sockets 39 and with 45 which is moved with seats 4L0 and for simultaneously movm lockin plates ll tc clamp the axle in its functional position, comprises rods which. are pivot-ally connected at their rear end with the crank levers 35 and at their lorward ends to the pivotally mounted runway extensions 252.3. .1 lso extended from the ank lever 35, are levers l? having pin and slot connection with the slide clamps ll, whereby rocking oi? the 35, will move the clamp plates toward or from the axle.

With the parts so constructed, the runways may be lowered to permit a vehicle to be backed onto the carrier lrame along the guide ways and into the inclined centering channels 30, so that the rear Z1118 oi the wehiele is brought into the standard sockets T ie runways are then raised and through the link connecting rods e26, the bell crank bars are lowered to lower the tracl s and tree the drive wheels and permit the vehicle axle to seat in the standard and at the same time move the clamp plates tl downwardly to lock the motor vehicle axle in the socket seats hen the iinways are moved to vertical position they are locked by means spring pressed latch bars 50, carried on the pivotaily mounted hicle, I mount sprocket wheels 5: 3 on the hubs of the rear wheels oi? the motor vehicle and provide the transverse shaft 1'? with similar sprocket wheels 56, and ever the paired sprocket wheels I run chain belts 57 so that power may be transmitter "from the vehicle to the shaft 17.

Revolubly mounted at the end oi? the shaft 17, is a gear wheel 58 which is adapted to mesh with a gear ring 59 fixed. on the bull wheel 9, and at the end of the sl it 1? opposite the gear 58, I provide a pu y wheel over which a belt may be run to drive a senarator, saw, or other machine.

Slidably keyed on the shaft 1.? adjacent the gear wheel 58 is a clutca 6O adag ited to r a w 1 i P lne ilon guide N118 s 8 are n.. Ml on knack pivotally carried in voile arms 62 at the end," .e 7., and are he in relative guiding alinement oi he a Means for steering the tractor from the vehicle seat comprises a steering wheel 5 that is mounted. on a shaft 66 carried in a standard 67 that is removably mounted on the body of the propelling vehicle. Connected with the shaft 66, by a universal joint 67', is a rod 68'which extends forwardly and is connected, by a universal joint 69, with a shaft 70 that is carried in a bracket 71 secured on a tubular standard 72 that extends from a knuckle yoke 62. Secured onthe shaft 70 is. a bevel gear wheel 73 which meshes with a horizontal bevel gear wheel 74 fixed on a squared shaft 7 5 that extends downwardly through the standard 72 and is fixed in the steering knuckle 62 so that turning of the steering wheel 65 will move the wheels 8 to guide the vehicle.

In order to effect adjustment of the steering mechanism to vehicles of different lengths, I preferto divide the rod 68 and to extend the ends thereof into a tube 76 in telescoping fashion to give a desired ad-. justment and permit a certain amount of play due to movement'of the tractor over irregular ground. a

Assuming that the carrier is so constructed, in using the same, the guideway extensions are first lowered onto the ground and a propelling vehicle backed thereon onto the guideways 22 and into the upwardly inclined channels 30, so that the vehicle is centered on the frame and the rear axle of the vehicle moves into the standard sockets 39. a

The guides 25-25 are then raised and locked in vertical position, and by so doing, the uideways 30 are moved to lower the vehic e axle into the standard socket seats and the clamp plate, hooks are drawn thereover to secure the vehicle rigidly in func tional position.

The chain belts are then placed over the paired sprocket wheels at opposite ends of the shaft 17 and wheel hubs and the device is ready for use to perform the work of the usual tractor.

To remove the vehicle from the carrier the latches 50 are first raised from the notches 51 so that the guideways may be lowered. Lowering of the guideways, through the links 46, rocks the bell crank levers 35 to raise the guide channels which lifts the vehicle axle from the standard sockets and raises the clamping plates so that the vehicle is free to move forwardly from the carrier.

It will be seen that by so constructing the device a tractor may be provided at small expense which will do the work of the usual tractor wherein the transmission and power mechanism is made a permanent part. 7

it is also apparent that by disconnecting the clutch 60 from the driving wheel ear, power may be transmitted through the s aft 17 and pulley carried thereon to drive other machines such as saws, separators, etc.

While I have shown but one drive wheel,

I do not wish to limit the device to this particular form as'it is apparent that, by

removing'the leveling wheel, a wheel similar tothe wheel 9 could be mounted and also driven from the axle 17.

Having thus described my invention, what I clami as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

2. In an autotractor, a carrier frame,

comprising parallel runways adapted to receive a motor vehicle thereon and transverse beams connecting the runways, upwardly inclined guideways mounted on the run ways for receiving the wheels of a motor vehicle, standards mounted atopposite sides of the frame having sockets therein and means for lowering the inclined guideways to seat the axle of a vehicle carried thereon in the standardsockets and to free the vehicle wheels for the purpose set forth.

3. In an auto-tractor, a carrying vehicle frame comprising parallel runways adapted to receive a motor vehicle thereon, upwardly inclined guide ways pivotally mounted on the runways for receiving the wheels of a motor vehicle from the runways, standards mounted at opposite sides of the frame having forwardly opening sockets therein, guideways pivotally connected with the forward ends of the parallel runways for mounting a motor vehicle on the carrying frame and a link pivotally connecting the mounting guideways with means for lowering the inclined guideways, whereby raising of the frame will lower the inclined guideways to seat the motor vehicle axle in the standard sockets and free the vehicle wheels, for the purpose set forth.

4. In an auto-tractor, a carrying vehicle frame comprising parallel runways adapted to receive a motor vehicle thereon, upwardly inclined guideways pivotally mounted on the runways for receiving the wheels of a 7 motor vehicle from the runways, standards mounted at opposite sides of the frame having forwardly opening sockets therein, guideways pivotally connected with the forward ends of the parallel runways for mounting a motor vehicle on the carrying frame, a link pivotally connected with the mounting guideways and with means for lowering the inclined guideways whereby raising of the formerwill lower the latter to seat a motor vehicle axle in the standard sockets and free the vehicle Wheels, and means for connecting the driving wheels of the motor vehicle with parts of the carrying vehicle to propel the latter.

5. In an auto-tractor, a carrier frame comprising parallel runways for receiving a motor vehicle thereon, inclined guideways mounted on said parallel runways to receive the mounted vehicle wheels and for centering a vehicle on the carrier fram standa 'ds mounted at opposite sides of the frame having forwardly opening sockets therein adapted to receive the axle oi a V0 hicle moved along the inclined guideways to seat the axle in the standard sockets and to free the Vehicle Wheels, means for lowersaid gaideways and a clamp tctuated means for lowering the gtlldfiwt ":or locking said axle in said socket,

6. In an auto-tracto a carrier frame comprising parallel runways :tor receiving a motor vehicle thereon, stanmnds mountalv opposite sides adja ent he rear end oi the frame, having; forwardly opening sockets therein, inclined guideways mounted on the parallel runways for receiving the Wheels of a vehicle therefrom to guide the vehicle to a central position on the frame and to raise the axle of motor (ElllClQ into the standard sockets, loci-:ing plates mounted on the standards, guideways pivotally mounted at the forward ends of toe runways for mounting a motor vehicle on the frame, means operatively connecting the mounting runways with the inclined guide- Ways and locking pla es whereby the mov ment of the former from and to functional position will synchronously actuate the latter parts to and from functional position for the purpose set forth.

7. In an auto tractor, a motor vehicle carrier frame, means on the frame for raisin the rear alile oi the motor ehic.

D i means or supporting the motor v hicle a ie 111 its s l position, means ior operating the mist named means, and an axle locking means for the support opcrativcly connected Oil arising devices and the locks. 10. 1.11 an auto tractor, a 'ier frame, vehicle Whe ,l 1 i by said f me, a:

' ported by said devices said l longitudinal moiahle cla] :mding an elbow lever for simultaneously with the a 'eing devices.

11. I1 an auto tractor, a carrier frame adapted to receive a moto vehicle thereoii, means for raising and lo Y, action the vehicle rela mechanism i'or d of the vehicle in osi- 4 l d a common actuator iaising and lowering means and the locking menatracin testimony Whereor l atllz;

GEORGE L. SC

in signature. 

